Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton are not in a “new war,” despite a needlessly dramatic tabloid cover story. The former spouses are once again being pit against each other, but there’s little to no merit to the allegations. Gossip Cop can bust the report.

The new cover of Life & Style is blaring, “Miranda & Blake New War Explodes!” But the article is deceptive right off the bat, with the first paragraph. It states, “‘I don’t think we’re close to calling a wedding planner,’ Blake says of Gwen [Stefani].” The way it’s written, in the present tense and without attribution, was designed to make readers think Shelton just made the comment to the tabloid. It was crafted to give the gossip magazine credibility and make fans think it has inside access to Shelton and therefore all that’s said in the rest of the story should be trusted. But that quote is actually from almost three weeks ago, when Shelton was asked about wedding plans in a radio interview.

If the outlet can’t even represent a legitimate quote truthfully, and in the very first paragraph no less, there’s little reason to believe it is being genuine with the rest of its article. After babbling about Shelton and Stefani, the publication finally gets to the main premise of its cover story, which is that a “new war” between him and Lambert has “erupted, and it includes revenge songs, public digs and trash-talking to pals.” A so-called “source” is quoted as saying, “There is still a lot of bad blood and unresolved anger between Blake and Miranda. No one thinks they will ever bury the hatchet and put their issues behind them.” A purported “insider” also asserts to the tabloid, “A whole new era of warfare is starting for Miranda and Blake.”

According to the gossip magazine, the “unlikely spark of the latest chapter in this relationship drama” was Shelton and Lambert taking opposite sides after Garth Brooks was criticized for lip-syncing at the CMAs earlier this month. He defended the country legend while she slammed the icon. Contends the outlet, “Blake was deeply hurt by the end of his marriage, and his anger resurfaced when he felt his ex was disrespectful” to Brooks. The publication also points to a recent interview in which Shelton spoke about feeling “betrayed” when Stefani came into his life, and said “nothing’s ever worked better” than their romance. “The exes’ mutual pals see those comments as a slam on Miranda,” alleges the tabloid, further claiming, “He makes other slights in private.”

As for Lambert, it’s asserted “she’s ready to dish on her ex even more” through her upcoming music, a follow-up to The Weight Of These Wings, an album many interpreted as being about their failed marriage. But, adds the magazine, “Revenge songs are where the war with Blake ends,” as she supposedly has no plans to trash him on social media or interviews. Still, she’s described as determined to deliver her former husband a “country comeuppance.”

But Gossip Cop can reveal what’s actually going on. In August, Life & Style made up a cover story about Lambert getting “revenge” on Shelton. Now, simply because they both weighed in on opposite sides regarding Brooks, the outlet is essentially selling its tired, old feud narrative again.

It comes after earlier this month insisting Lambert was “coming between” Shelton and Stefani because he was still heartbroken over the divorce. This new article, however, paints him as angry and vengeful. The abrupt change in the way he’s characterized then versus now is evidence that, as opposed to these being thoroughly-reported stories, the outlet just changes course as the wind blows. One week Shelton is at odds with Lambert, another week he’s struggling with the end of their marriage, and then he’s back to hating her guts, according to this fictional reality. If the publication really had inside access, its stories would be consistent. But they’re not, which is why it comes as no surprise that sources close to the former couple tell Gossip Cop this latest cover story is “made up like everything else.”